Pipe and tile making machine



Jan. 3, 1961 J. o. PRATT PIPE AND TILE MAKING MACHINE 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Oct. 10, 1955 1 a INVENTOR. FIE O. PRATT Jan. 3, 1961 Y J. o. PRATT 2,966,716

PIPE AND TILE MAKING MACHINE Filed 001'.- 10; 1955 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 FEE-1-5.

IN VEN TOR.

GTO PRA T7 BY Jan. 3, 1961 o, PRATT 2,966,716

PIPE AND TILE MAKING MACHINE Filed Oct. 10, 1955 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVEN TOR. OT 0. PRATT 1961 J. o. PRATT PIPE AND TILE MAKING MACHINE I 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed Oct. 10, 1955 INVENTOR. 770 P T Jan. 3, 1961 J. o. PRATT PIPE AND TILE MAKING MACHINE 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed Oct. 10, 1955 FEE-7 INVENTOR. \I' 0. PRATT United States Patent PIPE AND TILE MAKING MACHINE James Orville Pratt, RD. 1, Coldwater, Ohio, assignor of twenty percent each, to Ora E. Pratt, Earl E. Pratt, John F. Pratt, and Robert N. Boise Filed Oct. 10, 1955, Ser. No. 539,571

3 Claims. (Cl. 25-36) This invention relates to the manufacture of pipe or tile and particularly that made of concrete.

At the present time concrete pipe may be made by several different machines, but all have limitations which reduce their versatility. In fact known machines must be provided in several different sizes to handle a complete range of pipe and tile manufacture. As an example, if tile of inch diameter, 24 inches long is required, one machine is necessary whereas if tile of 24 inch diameter is wanted, an entirely difierent machine or at least a separate machine is used.

Additionally at the present, the specifications established for pipe and tile by governmental bodies are constantly being made more stringent and certain types of machines are not capable of consistantly meeting the same. the productivity of existing machines.

In contrast to the foregoing, the machine of the instant invention is virtually universally applicable as to its range of pipe and tile sizes, handling to advantage diameters as small as 6 inches and up to 36 inches, the length ranging from 12 inches to 48 inches. All of the foregoing is accomplished by adjusting certain parts and substituting attachments where necessary and obviously eliminates the necessity of providing several machines to produce the range of sizes referred to.

Further the machine is capable of increased speed in producing all of the aforesaid sizes, despite the fact that wide variations are required.

With the foregoing in mind, it is a principal object of this invention to provide a single pipe and tile making machine which by simple adjustment and substitution of attachments is capable of producing substantially all of the usual sizes of pipe and tile.

A further object in conjunction with the above is to produce pipe and tile as stated, but even further by so producing the same that increased amounts will be provided at an increase in speed made possible by the arrangement to be discussed.

In addition to the previous objects, this invention is intended to improve the quality of pipe and tile without sacrificing productivity.

Another object of the invention is to provide a machine which will enable pipe and tile to be produced by more accessible machinery having simpler parts, more easily adjusted and replaced or repaired if necessary.

A still further object of the invention is to arrange the various elements of the machine so as to increase efiiciency and provide finished tile or pipe at positions where the same is more easily and quickly handled.

Yet another object of the invention is to provide a machine for the purposes described which is simply and ruggedly constructed to withstand the abuse of handling heavy pipe and tile sections, yet capable of speeds which Other difiiculties are well known and decrease make practical the employment of the machine for making such sections of substantially less weight and size.

A further object of the invention is to provide a machine which will be useful in the production of both the smooth and corrugated types of pipe or tile.

An important'object of the invention is the provision of a machine which will be useful in producing pipe and tile in forms which are transported to a drying area and there removed, and in addition the same machine by suitable adjustment and attachments may be used to strip the form from the pipe or tile section in the machine and enable the finished section to be borne off and placed in the drying room without the necessity to return a form to the machine, this latter type of operation being denoted stripping.

Further to the last described object it is important to noted that the machine hereof makes possible production from a single form obviating the handling of quantities of forms and yet increasing the quality of the tile and pipe produced.

Other and further objects will be understood from a consideration of the specification appended hereto and shown in the drawings wherein:

Figure 1 is a rear elevation view of the machine showing certain portions thereof in detail and in dotted lines certain of the positions of various parts.

Figure 2 is a view in side elevation, somewhat restricted in nature, showing further the drive means for operating the machine as well as certain of the parts shown in Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a view taken about on the line 33 of- Figure 2, being largely a top elevation or plan view showing certain of the parts of the machine in section and others in full lines illustrating the drive means particularly.

Figure 4 is a fragmentary side elevational view taken from the opposite side of that shown in Figure 2 illustrating in further detail certain of the drive arrangement parts.

Figure 5 is a plan view of a compacting head taken about on the line 55 of Figure 2, other of the parts being omitted.

Figure 6 is a fragmentary view taken about on the line 6-6 of Figure 1 illustrating in further detail certain of the important elements of the invention.

Figure 7 is a fragmentary view, generally in elevation illustrating in some detail a modification of the machine hereof, the same being set up as a stripping type machine.

Referring to the drawings, and initially to Figures 1 to 3, it is seen that the machine of this invention is intended to be in large part mounted below ground level, ground level in this case being indicated at A, in order to have the pipe or tile made thereby accessible at ground level for bearing off to the appropriate place as is usually desirable.

With the foregoing in mind and noting that the machine is not only arranged to be in large measure below the ground, it will be seen further that the machine is an upright type of device in this exemplification although obviously not necessarily limited thereto as will be understood hereinafter. Further in respect to the above, the machine includes a main frame comprising a pair of parallel upright columns indicated at 1 and 2, the columns being substantially identical and being in cross section of I-beam shape and of substantial length, being mounted at their lower ends on any suitable foundation and fastened thereto as by the flanges 3 and 4 respectively.

At the bottom ends and near the flanges 3 and 4, the beams are connected together and maintained in spaced relation by suitable transverse members 5. Intermediate the upper and lower ends of the beams and substantially at their mid points in the same the frame has fastened thereto a drive mechanism frame indicated at 6, the said frame 6 extending rearwardly from the columns 1 and 2, and as indicated in Figure 1 including the side I-beam members 7 and S, the rear ends of the members 7 and 8 being fastened or maintained in position as by means of a suitable transverse beam 9 more particularly illustrated in Figure 3.

Adjacent the columns 1 and 2 and spanning the space between the frame members 7 and 8, are a series of transverse beams indicated and more particularly shown in Figure 3 at lil, 11 and 12, these latter members being parallel and suitably fastened at their ends to the members 7 and it in any preferred manner.

Mounted between the columns 1 and 2 is a vertically movable frame unit denoted a lifter frame and generally indicated at E4 in Figure 2, said frame comprising 4 tubular members preferably denoted 15, i6, i7, and i8, the said members referred to being slidable upwardly and downwardly in suitable guide bearings 15a, 16a, 17a, and 18a. These bearings just referred to, are duplicated both above and below the frame 6 as particularly seen in Figure 2 and also indicated in Figure 1 in order to provide for the guided movement of the lifter frame 14 now being described.

The lifter frame 14 further includes at its lower end the transverse members 20 and 21 suitably fastened at 22 and 23 to the members 15 and 16 as seen in Figure l, the member 21 being similarly fastened to members 17 and 18. Additional members 24 and 25 also seen in Figure l, are fastened in any preferred manner to the members 2%) and 2i and with the said members comprise a substantially square frame portion, to stiffen and connect the lower ends of the respective members 15 to 18 inclusive previously mentioned.

The upper end of the lifter frame 14, is provided with a circular ring or platen indicated at 26 in Figure 2 particularly the said ring or platen 26 being fastened to the members 15 to 13 inclusive in any preferred manner, so long as the said ring may be disconnected or removed from its connection with the said members 15 to 18 inclusive.

It should further be explained aswill be clearly understood upon further consideration of Figure 2, that the bearing members 15a to 18a inclusive are suitably fastened to the frame 6 for example referring to the members 15a and 16a there being vertically extending stiffeners 23 to which the upper and lower bearing members are fastened similar stiffeners being provided for the members 17a and 18a whereby a rigid guide arrange ment is furnished, the said members of the upper guide units 15a to 18a inclusive being tied together transversely by suitable channel members 30 and 31 and front and rear by similar channel members 32 as seen in Figure 2, the members 32 being both above and below the frame 6 as will be seen from a consideration of Figure 2.

Since the lifter frame 14 is intended to be raised upwardly and downwardly, suitable provisions therefore are made in the form of a bolster indicated at 34 in Figure 1, the said bolster comprising the heavy transverse member including suitable channel members therefor, spanning the space between the columns 1 and 2 and having at its ends suitable guide means in the form of shoes such as seen in Figure 1 denoted 35, there being one of these at each end of the bolster 34- as will be apparent. These shoes 35 are connected to the bolster as by means of the trunnion 36 in each case, to permit certain amount of motion, the shoes being guided in the flanges of the columns 1 and 2 which columns are, as will be apparent, I-beams in cross section.

The shoes 35 are in turn connected as seen in the said Figure 1 to vertically extending rack members 38, the said rack members being guided in the flanges of the columns 1 and 2 and extending upwardly well past the central portion of the main frame, whereby to be engaged by suitable gears 40, the said gears 40 being carried on suitable bearing members 41, the bearing members in turn being fastened to the flanges of the columns 1 and 2 as will be understood from a consideration of Figure 3. Figure 3 also indicates the location of the racks 38 so as to be guided in their movement and the manner of effecting raising and lowering of the racks will now be described.

The gears 40 are of course supported on suitable shafts 42 carried on the bearing 41 there being outrigger hearing members 43 provided in each case suitably fastened to the columns and stiffened with regard thereto, sprockets 44 being provided on the shafts adjacent the gears 40.

Extending rearwardly so to speak from the sprockets 44 are the chains 45 the said chains 45 being clearly shown in Figure 4 as to their general elevational arrangement, to be mounted at their other ends or carried by additional sprockets 46, the said sprockets 46 being mounted on shafts 47, the shafts 47 in turn extending from and being supported by an auxiliary drive frame 48, consisting of the channel members 49 at each side and a transverse member 50 at the rear, being fastened to the members 49, members 49 being suitably connected to the upright columns as indicated at 51 in Figure 2.

Adverting now to the further description of the means for raising and lowering the bolster as by the racks 38, and the chains 45 carried by the sprockets 44 and 46, it will be seen that a suitable hydraulic piston and cylinder unit generally denoted 52 is mounted on the auxiliary drive frame 43 supported upon a transverse member 53 at its forward end and the member 50 at the rear. It will be noted also that this frame extends somewhat angularly with respect to the frame 6 previously discussed being supported in that angular position by means of a suitable bracing arrangement indicated at 55 in Figure 2.

The hydraulic piston and cylinder unit is equipped as will be apparent with a suitable piston rod 56 extending forwardly therefrom, the rod 56 being equipped at its extremity and connected thereto at 57 with a transversely extending member 58, member 58 being in turn fastened to the chains 45, all the same being illustrated in Figures 3 and 4 respectively.

It will be apparent that admission of fluid to the chamber within which the piston of the cylinder unit 52 is operating will cause the piston rod 56 to move inwardly or outwardly therefrom, and in turn transmit motion to the chains 45 reeved over the sprockets 44 and thus the sprockets 44 to be rotated, in turn causing the gears 40 to rotate and thus the racks 38 engaged thereby to be raised or lowered as the case may be within the columns 1 and 2. Obviously reverse actuation of the piston rod 56 will be availed of to raise and lower the rack indirectly connected therewith in any suitable manner.

In order to provide for movement of the piston rod 56 of the piston and cylinder unit 52, previously referred to, a suitable hydraulic pump as 59 is provided, the said pump 59 beingin turn driven by the main motor 60 of the machine as by means of suitable coupling 61 all of the same being illustrated in Figure 3 generally. The pump 59 is in turn controlled by a control valve 62, the valve 62 being manipulated in a manner to be subse quently set forth either automatically or manually as required by the desired operation of the machine. The control valve 62 is of conventional form and adapted to determine the flow of hydraulic fluid through the lines 63 and 64 which may be determined by the control arm 65 in its various positions regulating the operation of the valve 62.

As has been indicated the control valve 62 is intended to be automatically actuated, and the means for effecting this actuation may best now be described, having in mind the disclosures of Figures 1, 2, and 3, as comprising a vertically extending rod 66, indicated in Figure 1, carried on suitable guide members 67 extending from the column 2, the rod 66 being equipped with suitable stop members 68 and 69 which are adjustable on the rod and can be of any conventional form. Extending from the bolster 34 is an arm 70, which surrounds or is arranged to move between the stops 68 and 69, all the above being discussed in reference to Figure 1, so as to in one position cause the abutment of the arm 70 with the stop 68 for example, and move the rod 66 downwardly. Conversely movement of the bolster upwardly will cause the arm 70 to engage with the stop '69 and move the rod 66 upwardly. As seen in Figure 4, movement of the rod 66 upwardly will in turn impart as by means of the stop 71 rotary motion to a crank 72 in a clockwise direction, the said member 72 in turn pulling on the link 73 which extends to the control arm 65 of the control valve 62. By pulling on the link 73, the control arm 65 will obviously be moved forwardly as viewed in Figure 4, and since the bolster 34 is moved upwardly to effect this action, it will be assumed that the action just described causes the bolster to stop by interrupting the fluid flow through the line 63 for example.

The rod 66 is likewise equipped with a further stop 74 which upon abutment with the crank 72 will cause link 73 to move in the opposite direction to that previously described and reverse the motion of the piston rod 56 through the control valve 62. By suitable setting of the various stops referred to, various limits of motion may be established for the parts referred to and automatic operation of the bolster be obtained thereby.

As will be appreciated the bolster 34 serves a still further function in raising the lifter frame 14 previously described, the manner of connection of the bolster with the frame 14 now to be set forth.

It should be borne in mind that one of the important functions of the machine is to provide for the finishing of the interior of the pipe being made by the machine,

and the compaction of the aggregate being used, for this purpose there being provided suitable compacting means or instrumentalities including a compacting head 80 seen in Figure 2, the head 80 being mounted at the upper end of a drive shaft 81, the drive shaft 81 being in turn guided in a suitable bearing adjacent the frame 6, and being carried by the columns 1 and 2. The drive shaft 81 is intended to be rotated and at its lower end supported in a bearing structure generally denoted 82 for such rotation, rotation of the shaft being imparted by the bevel gear 83 adjacent the hearing at the upper end of the shaft, the bevel gear 83 in turn being driven by a further bevel gear 84 from a main drive shaft 85 extending into the frame and being driven in a manner to be described by parts supported on the said frame in this case being the member or unit 6 previously mentioned.

It will thus be understood that since the drive shaft 81 is supported for rotation on the bolster 34 raising and lowering of the bolster will likewise carry the drive shaft 81 and the compacting head mounted thereon upwardly and downwardly with the said bolster.

The bolster 34 in addition to supporting the drive shaft 81 and compacting head 80 thereon includes a pair of upwardly extending push rod members 86 seen in Figure 1 being comprised of T-shaped parts in cross section and equipped at their upper ends with suitable pockets 87. The pockets 87 are intended to receive and engage for pushing action rollers 88 carried at the lower extremities of the links or arms 89, the links 89 being in turn connected to the lifter frame 14 by means of the parts 90, the said links 89 being pivotal on the parts 90 which extend inwardly as seen in Figure 1 from the frame members 24 and 25.

Suitably connected to the transverse frame member 5 at the bottom of the columns 1 and 2, are the gauge members 91, each of the same being substantially identical but of the opposite hand as viewed in Figure 1, each said member 91 including the adjustable upper section 92 thereon, the said part 92 being fastened to the member 91 by means of suitable bolts entered in openings provided therefor, the bolts being indicated at 93.

In order to avail of the gauge members just described it will be seen that the rollers 88 normally engaged as shown in the Figure 1 position, in the pockets 87 of the push arms 86 upon movement of the bolster 34 upwardly, correspondingly move the rollers and links connected thereto, and thus the frame 14, until the dotted line position of the frame 14 is reached in the Figure 1 disclosure, whereupon the rollers 88 are permitted to move into the dotted line positions indicated, being supported in suitable pockets 94 formed at the upper ends of the members 92. Thereafter the push arms 86 may continue in their upward movement as controlled by the bolster 34 without further raising the frame 14 since the rollers 88 have assumed the dotted line positions and permit the push arms to roll or move along beside the same having been moved out of the pockets 87 carried on the push arms 86.

As has previously been explained, the platen 26 carried at the upper end of the lifter frame 14, is suitably fastened thereto and may have positioned thereon a suitable pallet which is in the form of a ring or the like, the pallet being indicated at 95 in Figure 2 and other corresponding figures. The said pallet supports thereon, the usual type of corrugated form indicated at 96, the said form 96 being a split type of form having hinges such as 97 and suitable locking means oppositely disposed with regard thereto to maintain the form 96 in usual locked position until the pipe or tile is to be removed.

It will be apparent that the arrangement previously described, as including the lifter frame 14, carrying the pallet 95 on the platen 26, will correspondingly lift the form 96 into the position shown in the several figures above or substantially level with the ground if the pipe to be made is of the maximum length. If the pipe being made is for example only one foot long, the action pre-' viously described will cause the platen 26 to be raised somewhat above the ground carrying the pallet 95 and form supported thereon to the position above the ground as for example into the dotted line position indicated in Figure 1 of the maximum height position of the form.

An auxiliary or upper platen unit generally denoted 100 and illustrated in the several views, Figure 1 being now referred to, includes a ring like member or platen 101 suitably connected at opposite portions to saddle slide members 102 there being one of each of the latter at each side and mounted so as to surround and be guidingly carried by the columns 1 and 2.

The slide members 102 are in turn connected to the platen 101 as by means of the bolts 103, the platen as indicated being provided with an opening indicated by the dotted line at 104.

The diameter of the opening 104 in the platen 101 is the same as the maximum inner diameter of the pipe or tile being formed as determined in a manner to be described presently. Ihe platen 101 is also equipped with a shroud member 105 whereby aggregate may be suitably directed into the opening in the platen 104 and thereby admitted into the interior'of the form 96.

In order to effect the movement of the platen unit 100 in the desired manner so as to move downwardly into contact with the upper end of the form 96, as shown in dotted lines in Figure 1, suitable toggle arrangement is provided, the same comprising inward extensions 106 on each of the members 102 from which are pivotally depending the arms or links 107. The links 107 in turn are connected at their lower ends to lever members 108, the lever members 108 in each case being pivotally mounted on ears 109 and being equipped with adjustable positions indicated at 110. The positions 110 are intended to enable connection of the links 107 to the various places provided and vary the amountof throw or lift imparted to the platen unit 100 as will be apparent. The throw or lift imparted to the platen unit is effected by means of the lever arrangement 108, the lever 108 being equipped at'its lower end ineach case with a roller 111, which roller 111 is intended to contact or be engaged by the shoes 35 at the opposite "ends of the bolster 34. As viewed in the Figure 1 position, the bolster being in its lower most position, has correspondingly caused the upper platen unit 100 to be raised to its maximum position by the links 107 as will'be readily understood.

Correspondingly when the bolster 34 moves upwardly, it permits the levers 103 to shift on the pivots provided therefor, and thus lower the platen unit 100 so as the same will come into contact with the upper end of the form 96. The form will obviously be positioned by this movement, the said form having been raised simultaneously with the lowering movement just described by means of the lifter frame '14 so as to come into contact with the platen unit 100.

In order to provide for compacting aggregate introduced into the interior of the form 96, through the shroud 105 when the said form is positioned as previously described in conjunction and location between the platens 26 and 101, a compacting unit 80 previously partially described is availed of, the said unit including the head 80 having on its upper surface and extending upwardly therefrom the several blades 115, as seen in Figure all of the foregoing constituting compacting instrumentalities. The head 80 is of heavy metal of substantial thickness and round as seen in Figure 5, the diameter of the head being substantially that of the desired inner diameter of the pipe to be formed.

In order to transmit rotation to the head 80 during its upward and downard travel and at other times Where desired, the gears 83 and 84 previously mentioned are provided as being driven by the shaft 85. The shaft 85 is in turn connected to suitable change speed gearing 117, the change speed gearing in turn being connected by suitable shafting and couplings indicated at 118 through a clutch 119 to a sheave 120, the same being of the V- belt type the sheave 120 being in alignment with a further sheave 121 mounted on the drive shaft 122 of the motor 60 previously mentioned. Suitable V-belts, there being a multiple number of these indicated at 123 are provided, reeved over the respective sheaves so as to impart driving motion to the shaft 85 previously mentioned.

A clutch 119 is provided, said clutch being of the jaw type, control means therefore extending from the clutch as seen in Figure 3 and including a control arm 126 pivotally mounted at 127 the outer end being in turn connected at 128 to a shift rod 129. The shift rod 129 as seen in Figure 4 is connected at the lower end of a shift lever 130 at 131. The shift lever 130 is in turn pivotally mounted at 132, the upper end of the lever extending above the surface of the ground into a position about as shown in the upper portion in Figure 1 where it terminates in a handle 133. The suitable manipulation of the handle forwardly and rearwardly will obviously in turn impart movement of the appropriate portions of the jaw clutch connected therewith so as to engage and effect disengagement of the same in a well known manner in order to transmit the drive to the shaft 85 under the driving action of the motor 60.

Since this drive is susceptible of being transferred to the shaft 85 it will of course impart rotation to the vertical shaft 81, the same being a square shaft and thus to the compacting head 80 mounted at the upper end of the shaft so as to move the compacting head or rotate the same at various different speeds in accordance with the tile or pipe being manufactured, the blades 115 on the head acting so as to centrifugally manipulate the ag- 8 gregate and cause the same to be thrown outwardly and compacted within the form 96. The outer surface or periphery of the head is such as to cause the inner surface of the pipe or tile being formed to be smooth during the passage upwardly and downwardly through the pipe being formed of the head in response to movement upwardly and downwardly of the bolster 34. The compaction attained by this head and the passage of the periphery thereof in engagement with the inner surface of the pipe is such as to provide a very dense pipe or tile and the density may be varied by varying the speed of compaction under the control of change speed mechanism 117 provided, the said mechanism in turn having shifting means 117a therefor to provide for a different speed output from the motor 60 previously mentioned.

With all of the foregoing various parts having now been described, a cycle of operation of the machine may be said to comprise initially the actuation of the motor 60 in any suitable manner from any suitable electric source, the same not being shown in detail since it is well known, to thereby start the pump 59, being a hydraulic pump as mentioned and circulate the fluid through the various lines connected thereto.

Thereafter the lever 133 may be manipulated so as to cause engagement of the clutch 119 and thus the shaft is caused to rotate and in turn the head 80 driven thereby.

With the foregoing parts in operation, the vertical rod 66 may be manipulated by the operator so as to cause the valve 62 to effect admission of fluid to the line 63 leading to the hydraulic piston and cylinder unit 52 and thereby cause the piston rod 56 to move outwardly from the unit 52. During the outward movement, the chains 45 will be moved and the sprockets 44 connected therewith likewise, in turn imparting rotation to the gears 40 and by way of example causing the racks 38 to move upwardly, carrying with them the bolster 34.

The bolster 34 equipped with the push rods 86 will in turn cause raising movement of the lifter frame 14, carrying with it the platen 26 and form 96 carried thereby in an upwardly direction for example to the position shown in dotted lines in Figure l.

Substantially simultaneously with the last described movement, the movement of the shoes 35 on the bolster 34 out of engagement with the rollers 111 on the arms 108, will permit the toggle arms 107 to move downward ly and thus permit the platen unit 100 to likewise move downwardly until the same comes into conjunction with the upper end of the form 56.

As the bolster 34 continues to rise, carrying with it the head 80, aggregate is poured into the shroud and thus is manipulated by the blades on the head 80 and thrown outwardly into position within the form 96. The aggregate is continually manipulated by the blades 115 until the head 80 rises to its maximum extent as determined by the position of the stop 65 on the rod 66. The arm 70 at that time strikes the stop 69 causing the same to rise farther and throwing the control arm 65 into a different position to thereby cause the piston rod 56 to be retracted in the piston and cylinder unit. This will impart opposite rotation to the gears 40 in the manner described thus permitting the bolster to move downwardly within the frame of the machine. If it is desired again to move the head 80 up through the presently compacted aggregate in the form 96, manipulation of the rod 66 may be resorted to by the operator but this will ordinarily not be necessary, one pass so to speak being sufiicient where proper conditions of moisture in the aggregate are present.

When the bolster 34 has again reached the lower extent of its movement, it will cause the shoes 35 on the ends thereof to strike the rollers 111 and in turn impart raising movement to the toggle arms 107, which causes the platen unit 100 to rise into the position shown in Figure l in full lines. Thereafter the form 96 with the presently formed pipe or tile therein may be borne off to the drying room, the form opened and returned for re-use in the well known manner.

In contrast to the foregoing, a further form of machine known as a stripping type of machine may be provided by the same mechanism herein set forth with certain modifications. The modifications above referred to are shown in Figure 7 and described in relation to additional parts or substituted parts in the following manner.

The same columns 1 and 2 are shown and the real difference in the machine is in the provision of a pedestal including the upright legs 159 thereon, extending upwardly from a transverse member such as for certain of the legs and an equivalent member mounted outside the frame 43, as would be indicated in Figure 3, the pedestal having an upper ring member 151 adapted to have mounted thereon in a removable manner the pallet 152. The parts thus far described, are fixed as regards upward and downward movement, the pallet 152 being removable in any suitable manner as by carrying off when the pipe within the form is completed.

Suitably attached to the platen member 26, is a cylindrical smooth form 153, as by means of the bolts 154 so that any upward or downward movement of the platen 26 will cause the form 153 to move therewith.

At the upper side of the form, a closing platen 155 of ring like configuration may be provided, the same being attached to the slidable members 102 previously described as by means of the bolts 156.

The parts 102 are connected to the toggle arms 167 as previously described, and a shroud 105 is also provided.

All of the other parts corresponding to those previously described in reference to the first form of the invention, are similar or the same and it is now appropriate to describe the manner of operation of this stripper type of machine having in mind the usual operations performed by the several parts including the lifter frame 14 not completely shown in this disclosure of Figure 7.

Assuming that the motor 60 is operating and that the lifter frame 14 is in the position shown in dotted lines in Figure 7, the bolster 34 will cause the said frame to rise to the position shown in full lines in the said figure. At the same time the members 102 will be permitted to move downwardly, and since the form 153 is moved upwardly, thus come into conjunction with the said form and form a cylindrical enclosure.

Thereafter the head 80 will start to move upwardly and aggregate is deposited in the shroud 105 to be centrifugally compacted by the blades 115 as indicated at 157 in Figure 7.

After the head 80 has passed upwardly to its maximum extent dependent upon the length of pipe being made, the same will move downwardly, the cycle having been completed, and thereafter the lifter frame 14 likewise moved downwardly carrying with it the platen 26 and form 153 connected thereto. Since the finished pipe 157 is now resting on the pallet 152, the form 153 will be stripped therefrom downwardly as will be apparent. Simultaneously with this downward movement of the form 153, the platen 155 will of course move upwardly also and thereafter a suitable device may be availed of to grip the pallet 152 and bear the pipe off to a suitable drying room where it will remain on the pallet until drying has been accomplished.

It will be seen that the latter type of mechanism aptly described as a stripper type, reduces the requirements for having large numbers of forms for use and makes possible the provision of very dense pipe having uniformly compacted material therein. Of course this latter type of operation can only be effected where smooth forms are feasible but the application of the smooth form and smooth pipe or tile is virtually unlimited.

I claim: I I

1. In a machine of the class described, in combina tion, a main frame including a pair of upright spaced columns, said columns extending above a working level, a platen unit mounted on said frame including a lifter frame, said lifter frame being generally below said level and adapted to move up and down with respect thereto, a platen on said lifter frame, a bolster below said lifter frame and movable up and down on the main frame, an auxiliary platen unit above the first mentioned unit, said last named unit including a platen between which and the first platen a pipe form is adapted to be positioned, compacting means carried by the bolster movable upwardly and downwardly with respect to the platens aforesaid, drive means for all of the moving parts described and automatic control means for operating said drive means, pallet supporting means fixed to the main frame, and means to connect a form to the firstmentioned platen unit for movement therewith, said columns having rack means, the lower ends being connected to the bolster, gears are mounted on the columns intermediate the ends thereof, drive connections and power means are provided for said racks whereby operation of said gears will raise and lower the racks and thus the bolster, lift arms are mounted on the bolster, and lift links are connected to the lifter frame having parts engageable by the arms aforesaid and shiftable out of engagement therewith, when the lifter frame has been raised a predetermined distance.

2. In a machine of the class described, in combination, a main frame including a pair of upright spaced columns, said columns extending above a working level, a platen unit mounted on said frame including a lifter frame, said lifter frame being generally below said level and adapted to move up and down with respect thereto, a platen on said lifter frame, a bolster below said lifter frame and movable up and down on the main frame, an auxiliary platen unit above the first mentioned unit, said last named unit including a platen between which and the first platen a pipe form is adapted to be positioned, compacting means carried by the bolster movable upwardly and downwardly with respect to the platens aforesaid, drive means for all of the moving parts described and automatic control means for operating said drive means, pallet supporting means fixed to the main frame, and means to connect a form to the first mentioned platen unit for movement therewith, said columns having rack means, rack members are provided connected at their lower ends to the bolster and driven by gear means thereabove, lift connections from the bolster to the lifting frame are provided and arranged for variable movement, toggle connections extend downwardly from the auxiliary platen unit, and means are provided on the bolster to coact with portions of said connections to raise and lower said auxiliary unit, said movements being coordinated to cause raising of the bolster, thereafter the simultaneous lowering of the auxiliary platen unit and raising of the first platen unit aforesaid.

3. In a machine of the class described, in combination, a vertical main frame, a first platen unit movable up and down in said frame, a second platen unit similarly movable, said units being arranged to clampingly engage a pipe form positioned therebetween, one of said units being connected to such pipe form carried thereby to effect movement of such form therewith, a bolster on said frame for up and down movement, means for supporting a pallet in fixed position adjacent the first unit, means intermediate the bolster and first unit to transfer motion of the bolster for different distances, head means carried by the bolster for compacting aggregate by rotary motion of the head in such pipe form, drive means including connections with the platen units and head means for effecting the movements stated, the first platen unit comprises a frame slidably mounted on the main frame, a platen member is mounted at the upper end of the slidable frame, the form is connected thereto, the second platen unit being above the first and adapted to move into engagement with an end of such pipe form member supported on the platen member of the first unit, the means for compacting aggregate is movable upwardly 5 and downwardly independently and simultaneously with the first platen unit aforesaid, and the means for supporting the pallet comprises a fixed frame to support the pallet and permit said first platen unit to move downwardly away from the pallet, to thereby strip the form 10 from a pipe resting on the pallet aforesaid.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Pauly July 19, 1910 Williams May 25, 1915 Straub Dec. 6, 1921 Nichols Nov. 13, 1923 Lee Feb. 14, 1950 Schmidt Oct. 10, 1950 Gowing Dec. 12, 1950 Ramsey July 6, 1954 

